6 Hidden Facts of Chernobyl That You Might Not Know

Do you know about Chernobyl? What do you know about Chernobyl? When someone mentions “Chernobyl”, certainly what comes to mind most people is a nuclear disaster. Maybe there are also some people who don’t know the facts about Chernobyl.

Then, do you know about the hidden facts of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster?

If your answer is no, you don’t know about it yet, let’s look at 6 hidden facts of Chernobyl that you might not know.

The Chernobyl disaster is a nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986. This disaster occurred due to the explosion of nuclear reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant which was near the city of Pripyat, North Soviet, Ukraine. This Chernobyl disaster occurs when a sudden and unexpected power surge occurs. And the world has witnessed this great disaster. The impact of the Chernobyl disaster in the form of radiation that is released when the explosion occurred is still threatening the lives till today.

The Chernobyl disaster left some facts that may not have been known by many people around the world. It could be there are still many who do not know about this Chernobyl disaster. In this article I will discuss 6 hidden facts of Chernobyl that you might not know.

The Chernobyl, Level 7 Nuclear Disaster

The Chernobyl disaster or also called the Chernobyl accident is considered the most dangerous nuclear accident in history. Both in terms of costs and in terms of victims. The amount of radiation released at the Chernobyl disaster is 100 times greater than the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Because of that, the Chernobyl disaster was classified as level 7 on the International Nuclear Scale. Level 7 is the maximum classification level of the International Nuclear Scale. The United Nations calls this Chernobyl disaster as “The Greatest Environmental Catastrophe in The History of Humanity”.

The Chernobyl disaster was not the only disaster in the entrance level 7 on the International Nuclear Scale. Another disaster included in this level is the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster that occurred in Japan in 2011.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Is A Secret Uncovered?

You must have thought why the Chernobyl disaster was considered a secret that was revealed, right?

At first, the Ukrainian authorities kept the Chernobyl disaster secret. They think that the secret of the biggest nuclear disaster in history will be a good idea. Even the Soviet Union did not know what was happening in their “Kingdom”.

This great disaster was only known to the world not through the Soviet Union, but from Sweden. The person who knew that for the first time was a Swedish Nuclear plant worker where the sensors he worked for read of high levels of radiation. The radiation detector belonging to Forsmark’s Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden exploded. Sweden sent the first warning that something was happening when they realized there was nothing wrong with Forsmark. The Forsmark encouraged Ukrainian deputies to recognize the truth. And from there this Chernobyl disaster was revealed.

The Recipient of The Biggest Impact of The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Was Belarus

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is located right on the border between Ukraine and Belarus. This big Chernobyl disaster certainly had a big impact also in Belarus even though this disaster occurred in Ukraine. Belarus region that receives contamination from the explosion about 70%. The radioactive clouds produced due to the Chernobyl disaster even reached the island of Corsica.

Radiation in Belarus is higher than the exclusion zone in Ukraine. But Belarus has never even been included in the exclusion zone. Belarus did not get measurements to clean the area affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Belarus only gets “wilderness areas” that are not monitored and are not regulated.

The Ghost City, Pripyat

Pripyat is the closest city in Chernobyl. The city is a new city that was deliberately built for nuclear reactor workers and families of workers. Pripyat used to be one of the best places to live in the Soviet Union.

Those who live in the city of Pripyat earn salaries that are three times higher than elsewhere. The shops in the city have a better stock. The city also has good quality public places. There is even an amusement park there. But unfortunately, it was never used because of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Now the city of Pripyat is an empty city and will be terrible when night falls. Like a ghost city. Pripyat will take 3000 years to become a safe city for human habitation again.

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and The True Victims

There are 2600 square kilometers of area that is included in the exclusion zone due to the Chernobyl disaster. There are even some villages that are still buried underground because the radiation level in the village is too high. The entire zone of exclusion that exist today become wild. This zone is home to many wild animal species. After the Chernobyl disaster, there was one forest near the Chernobyl region. The forest is known as the “Red Forest”.

Regarding the actual victims of the Chernobyl disaster are people who are in the exclusion zone. There was a tragedy that hit the firefighters who were trying to control the fire from the explosion. These firefighters did not know what they were up against and were reported to have died. In honor of the sacrifices of firefighters, a monument was erected.

Tour at Chernobyl? Are You Serious?

Do a tour at Chernobyl? Are you serious?

Yes, this is serious. Now there are travel agents who can arrange a day trip to the Chernobyl exclusion zone. This tour agent will invite you to visit the abandoned city of Pripyat. Actually you can visit this location as a tourist or as a scientist.

But one thing you must remember! Be Careful. Because as is well known, radiation is a silent killer. It is odorless, tasteless and may be that you will not realize the danger because radiation is not visible.

And maybe there are still some of 6 hidden facts of Chernobyl that you might not know that haven’t been listed above. I hope this article can really help you to find out the 6 hidden facts of Chernobyl that you might not know.